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Junia Is Not Alone
In this fierce essay, leading Bible scholar Scot McKnight tells the story of Junia, a female apostle honored by Paul in his Letter to the Romans--and then silenced and forgotten for most of church history. But Junia's tragedy is not hers alone. She's joined by fellow women in the Bible whose stories of bold leadership have been overlooked. She's in the company of visionary women of God throughout the centuries whose names we've forgotten, whose stories go untold, and whose witness we neglect to celebrate.
But Junia is also joined by women today--women who are no longer silent and who are experiencing a re-voicing as they respond to God's call to lead us into all truth. (Patheos Press)
But Junia is also joined by women today--women who are no longer silent and who are experiencing a re-voicing as they respond to God's call to lead us into all truth. (Patheos Press)
22 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2011
41 people are currently reading
647 people want to read
About the author
Scot McKnight
207 books540 followersScot McKnight is a recognized authority on the New Testament, early Christianity, and the historical Jesus. McKnight, author or editor of forty books, is the Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary in Lombard, IL. Dr. McKnight has given interviews on radios across the nation, has appeared on television, and is regularly speaks at local churches, conferences, colleges, and seminaries in the USA and abroad. Dr. McKnight obtained his Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (1986).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
February 16, 2017
My wife gave birth to our first baby, a girl, on April 28.
We named her Junia, after a little known character in the Bible. At the end of Romans the apostle Paul is greeting various people and he mentions Junia, a woman great among the apostles (Romans 16:7). That is all we know of Junia.
But most have never heard of Junia. She was silenced because, well, everyone says women cannot be church leaders (or apostles) so if "Junia" was an apostle she had to be a man. Thus, "Junias" was born. McKnight's little book, essay really, shows how this happened in Biblical translations over the years (but those wanting something more in depth can refer to his bibliography which mentions at least one extensive study).
This is not just a book on Junia. Rather, McKnight wants to bring our attention to all the "Junias" in the Bible (Huldah, Miriam, Phoebe, Priscilla) and church history (Phoebe Palmer) who have done all kinds of things that some today say women are not allowed to do. McKnight calls on churches today to repent of our silencing of Junia, and other women, and to allow them to use the gifts God has given them...all the gifts.
We named her Junia, after a little known character in the Bible. At the end of Romans the apostle Paul is greeting various people and he mentions Junia, a woman great among the apostles (Romans 16:7). That is all we know of Junia.
But most have never heard of Junia. She was silenced because, well, everyone says women cannot be church leaders (or apostles) so if "Junia" was an apostle she had to be a man. Thus, "Junias" was born. McKnight's little book, essay really, shows how this happened in Biblical translations over the years (but those wanting something more in depth can refer to his bibliography which mentions at least one extensive study).
This is not just a book on Junia. Rather, McKnight wants to bring our attention to all the "Junias" in the Bible (Huldah, Miriam, Phoebe, Priscilla) and church history (Phoebe Palmer) who have done all kinds of things that some today say women are not allowed to do. McKnight calls on churches today to repent of our silencing of Junia, and other women, and to allow them to use the gifts God has given them...all the gifts.
March 7, 2014
I Read the Last Chapter in Tears
This is a short work - I read it in an afternoon of constant interruptions - the plumber was here restoring the water to both showers, fixing the water heater, etc.
I am a Christian woman who has yearned to learn Biblical Greek and Hebrew for more than 20 years, but since I was raised in conservative Christian circles where a woman must be in submission to all men, never in authority, it was something I have never pursued, because I could see no real purpose in it. About ten years ago, I began reconsidering it, assuring myself that I could always at least maybe do youth ministry, you know? But life got bumpy and finally ended with a new husband and a new church - a church that broke apart from its main group because they dared to allow women to preach to men.
The church I had been attending when I met him was similar, so it didn't bother me. I had been taught the Quiverfull type of submission and reality (which my husband says is enough to drive a woman insane if she follows it without any real heart for it) - I was honestly taught that women, as daughters of Eve, were incapable of spiritual discernment, and this was why we must always be subject to men - because we were incapable of knowing God's right from sin.
I am a very intelligent woman. Worse, I feel this incredible longing to share exegesis with others - to get deep into texts, compare other places words are used to tease out the deeper meaning of Scripture. The youth at the current teacher have told adults who asked them that they would most willingly attend Sunday School if I were asked to be their teacher and allowed to do so. My heart yearns to teach them, and grown ups - so much.
In sharing the stilled, erased voices, hidden because their stories are not shared, the author passionately awakens our hearts to their history, and you cannot help but want to know more of those women, and other women who had a passion for Christ who have been ignored in history. The last paragraphs moved me to tears and made me once again wonder how I might learn Biblical Greek and Hebrew, and if there is a place for my own voice.
Highly recommended.
This is a short work - I read it in an afternoon of constant interruptions - the plumber was here restoring the water to both showers, fixing the water heater, etc.
I am a Christian woman who has yearned to learn Biblical Greek and Hebrew for more than 20 years, but since I was raised in conservative Christian circles where a woman must be in submission to all men, never in authority, it was something I have never pursued, because I could see no real purpose in it. About ten years ago, I began reconsidering it, assuring myself that I could always at least maybe do youth ministry, you know? But life got bumpy and finally ended with a new husband and a new church - a church that broke apart from its main group because they dared to allow women to preach to men.
The church I had been attending when I met him was similar, so it didn't bother me. I had been taught the Quiverfull type of submission and reality (which my husband says is enough to drive a woman insane if she follows it without any real heart for it) - I was honestly taught that women, as daughters of Eve, were incapable of spiritual discernment, and this was why we must always be subject to men - because we were incapable of knowing God's right from sin.
I am a very intelligent woman. Worse, I feel this incredible longing to share exegesis with others - to get deep into texts, compare other places words are used to tease out the deeper meaning of Scripture. The youth at the current teacher have told adults who asked them that they would most willingly attend Sunday School if I were asked to be their teacher and allowed to do so. My heart yearns to teach them, and grown ups - so much.
In sharing the stilled, erased voices, hidden because their stories are not shared, the author passionately awakens our hearts to their history, and you cannot help but want to know more of those women, and other women who had a passion for Christ who have been ignored in history. The last paragraphs moved me to tears and made me once again wonder how I might learn Biblical Greek and Hebrew, and if there is a place for my own voice.
Highly recommended.
December 5, 2011
Short review: This is a very short book (really an article) on Junia and her history. We do not know much about Junia (mentioned only in Rom 16:7), but we do know that throughout much of the last 500 years of Christian history she has been referred to as a man or if acknowledges as a women was reduced from her role as an apostle.
I wish there was more here. It really does not even scratch the surface. McKnight has a blog and this would make a better long blog article than a short book. It is worth reading, but I am not sure it is worth paying $2.99 for.
I would suggest you read How I Changed My Mind About Women in Leadership first. It actually deals with scripture and the struggle of how people come to understand that women should be in church leadership.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/junia/
I wish there was more here. It really does not even scratch the surface. McKnight has a blog and this would make a better long blog article than a short book. It is worth reading, but I am not sure it is worth paying $2.99 for.
I would suggest you read How I Changed My Mind About Women in Leadership first. It actually deals with scripture and the struggle of how people come to understand that women should be in church leadership.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/junia/
June 9, 2019
I wish this book was longer, but it serves as a nice, strong introduction to Junia and the topic of how women have been silenced so many times throughout history. And now I want to read pretty much everything he referenced or cited.
Here is what you need to know: "in Greek New Testament composite texts—from Erasmus in the Reformation era to the famous German scholar Erwin Nestle’s edition of the Greek New Testament in 1927, Junia was a woman. Apart from one lesser known publication of the Greek New Testament, which had Junias in a footnote but not in the text, no Greek New Testament had anything but Junia, a woman’s name, until Nestle’s edition in 1927."
"In changing her name and creating a new male name, Nestle buried Junia alive."
"Let me be clear once more: The editors of Greek New Testaments killed Junia. They killed her by silencing her into non-existence. They murdered that innocent woman by erasing her from the footnotes."
Here is what you need to know: "in Greek New Testament composite texts—from Erasmus in the Reformation era to the famous German scholar Erwin Nestle’s edition of the Greek New Testament in 1927, Junia was a woman. Apart from one lesser known publication of the Greek New Testament, which had Junias in a footnote but not in the text, no Greek New Testament had anything but Junia, a woman’s name, until Nestle’s edition in 1927."
"In changing her name and creating a new male name, Nestle buried Junia alive."
"Let me be clear once more: The editors of Greek New Testaments killed Junia. They killed her by silencing her into non-existence. They murdered that innocent woman by erasing her from the footnotes."
July 9, 2017
Wow -- I was extremely hit by this short, concise, and powerful book. Junia is Not Alone will force you to grapple with the question of women in the church, scripture, etc. McKnight compellingly puts forward a narrative that invites and empowers all peoples to wrestle with the brokenness of half the world (ie women) left un-empowered. Due to the length of the book, he does not go into great depth with theological & historical questions, but does enough homework to get the reader asking good questions & thinking. Quick read & worth the time.
December 5, 2011
A good read, and a story that needs to be told again and stressed, but I felt a bit cheated in paying $2.99 (a Kindle e-book) for something I was able to complete reading in less than 10 minutes.
June 29, 2012
Scot McKnight asks, "Why is there so much silence in the church about the women in the Bible?" Noting how few of his students (i.e., none) had heard of Junia and other women in the Bible, he dedicates his short ebook to "ending the church's deafening silence on women in the Bible."
Junia "appears innocently enough" in just one verse of the New Testament, Romans 16:7, "alongside her husband, Andronicus." McNight goes on to say that Junia "had no idea she would someday be the subject of endless discussions," although unfortunately his own discussion of her ends pretty quickly.
On the bright side, McKnight does what often goes undone in conversations about the apostle Junia--he explains what the term "apostle" means in Romans 16:7. He writes, "So, we conclude that there was a first-century relative of the apostle Paul named Junia; she entered into Christ before Paul did; and this Junia was an apostle. Which means (because this is what apostles did) she was in essence a Christ-experiencing, Christ-representing, church-establishing, probably miracle-working, missionizing woman who preached the gospel and taught the church."
Nice. Unfortunately, however, readers who are looking for anything else about Junia will be disappointed. He summarizes the views of Eldon J. Epp in Junia: The First Woman Apostle, but does not go much further with Junia.
In addition to Junia, McKnight mentions other women in the Bible--Priscilla, Mary, Phoebe, Deborah, Miriam. Although his listing these women and briefly discussing their ministry is helpful, he says very little about each (Miriam: led Israel in song). Perhaps this is due to the nature of a deliberately short ebook, but I was left wanting more.
These criticisms notwithstanding, I'm with McKnight--those women's stories need to be told more often and more fully as preachers and teachers expound the whole Bible to their congregations. Where there is silence about how God has used and continues to use women to spread his Gospel, the silence should end. I just wish McKnight himself --as someone fully qualified to do so--had made more noise about Junia and the other women who join her in the pages of Scripture.
[My full review is at http://abramkj.wordpress.com/2012/06/...]
Junia "appears innocently enough" in just one verse of the New Testament, Romans 16:7, "alongside her husband, Andronicus." McNight goes on to say that Junia "had no idea she would someday be the subject of endless discussions," although unfortunately his own discussion of her ends pretty quickly.
On the bright side, McKnight does what often goes undone in conversations about the apostle Junia--he explains what the term "apostle" means in Romans 16:7. He writes, "So, we conclude that there was a first-century relative of the apostle Paul named Junia; she entered into Christ before Paul did; and this Junia was an apostle. Which means (because this is what apostles did) she was in essence a Christ-experiencing, Christ-representing, church-establishing, probably miracle-working, missionizing woman who preached the gospel and taught the church."
Nice. Unfortunately, however, readers who are looking for anything else about Junia will be disappointed. He summarizes the views of Eldon J. Epp in Junia: The First Woman Apostle, but does not go much further with Junia.
In addition to Junia, McKnight mentions other women in the Bible--Priscilla, Mary, Phoebe, Deborah, Miriam. Although his listing these women and briefly discussing their ministry is helpful, he says very little about each (Miriam: led Israel in song). Perhaps this is due to the nature of a deliberately short ebook, but I was left wanting more.
These criticisms notwithstanding, I'm with McKnight--those women's stories need to be told more often and more fully as preachers and teachers expound the whole Bible to their congregations. Where there is silence about how God has used and continues to use women to spread his Gospel, the silence should end. I just wish McKnight himself --as someone fully qualified to do so--had made more noise about Junia and the other women who join her in the pages of Scripture.
[My full review is at http://abramkj.wordpress.com/2012/06/...]
May 7, 2015
Alleluiah!
First of all, let me state proudly, but with a lot of frustration, that I am one of these silenced women. I am a seminary graduate, with some experience in teaching, pastoral counseling, preaching, and leading worship. But I have never been allowed to use these gifts for more than a few weeks at a time, and most of e time, not even that long. So you can probably imagine that I am very happy to see this small, but powerful book. Thank you, Scot, for so eloquently putting this book out there for discussion and for badly needed change. While there are women serving in pastoral roles now, and while they are well liked by their congregations, there are still those women, like myself, who have not been given the chance to answer God when he calls us to serve. As long as this is still the case, books like this are not only uplifting for us, but necessary for those who, for some reason, have not yet seen the light. I hope millions of people read this book, and then recommend it to millions more.
First of all, let me state proudly, but with a lot of frustration, that I am one of these silenced women. I am a seminary graduate, with some experience in teaching, pastoral counseling, preaching, and leading worship. But I have never been allowed to use these gifts for more than a few weeks at a time, and most of e time, not even that long. So you can probably imagine that I am very happy to see this small, but powerful book. Thank you, Scot, for so eloquently putting this book out there for discussion and for badly needed change. While there are women serving in pastoral roles now, and while they are well liked by their congregations, there are still those women, like myself, who have not been given the chance to answer God when he calls us to serve. As long as this is still the case, books like this are not only uplifting for us, but necessary for those who, for some reason, have not yet seen the light. I hope millions of people read this book, and then recommend it to millions more.
December 7, 2011
I am by no means a feminist, but it's utterly refreshing to hear a man argue so strongly for the position of women in ministry. McKnight does this in a short essay that examines how for years the story of Junia (Romans 16:7) was lost in translation - Bible translators silenced her role by making her a man in Bibles printed in much of the 20th century. McKnight sheds light on other outstanding unknown women (in and out of the Bible) who impacted the world because of their callings.
My favorite part: "Junia was a woman. Junia was an apostle. Junia was an outstanding apostle. And Junia is alive and well today. There are many like her in our churches today. It is our calling to let freedom ring, to let the Spirit use people whom God hooses, to let the gospel's inclusiveness have its way with us. It is our calling to hold one another accountable to Junia's noble example. Junia is not alone."
My favorite part: "Junia was a woman. Junia was an apostle. Junia was an outstanding apostle. And Junia is alive and well today. There are many like her in our churches today. It is our calling to let freedom ring, to let the Spirit use people whom God hooses, to let the gospel's inclusiveness have its way with us. It is our calling to hold one another accountable to Junia's noble example. Junia is not alone."
Read
February 15, 2012Fascinating little book on a fascinating topic.
Have male translaters of the bible erased a woman from the scriptures by changing her female name 'Junia' to the masculine 'Junias', mainly because the Apostle Paul refers to her as outstanding among the Apostles? Check your Bible if you are so inclined, Romans 16:7, I would bet you find the name 'Junias' I personally am disgusted by the way men have silenced and overlooked so many great women in the Bible. For example how many of you have ever even heard of 'Huldah'? (Found in 2 Kings 22)There are other longer books out there on this specific story of Junia, this book is a very short easy read that introduces this topic in an excellent manner. Thankfully some newer translations are using Junia and returning her to her rightful place.
Have male translaters of the bible erased a woman from the scriptures by changing her female name 'Junia' to the masculine 'Junias', mainly because the Apostle Paul refers to her as outstanding among the Apostles? Check your Bible if you are so inclined, Romans 16:7, I would bet you find the name 'Junias' I personally am disgusted by the way men have silenced and overlooked so many great women in the Bible. For example how many of you have ever even heard of 'Huldah'? (Found in 2 Kings 22)There are other longer books out there on this specific story of Junia, this book is a very short easy read that introduces this topic in an excellent manner. Thankfully some newer translations are using Junia and returning her to her rightful place.
February 28, 2012
I found this essay disappointing. Much too short to be worth $2.99, and not really full of much useful information, either. A little too much time was spent dramatically re-iterating his point: "They killed Junia." "Junia was murdered." "Junia was buried alive." I... I get it, thanks.
A very brief run-down of the actual issue in question (Junia's name being masculinized in some biblical translations) is followed by a rather sappy and anecdotal portrayal of 3 other women through history who were cool and who most people don't know about, but should. Revolutionary stuff, there.
Personally, I would have preferred a more serious-minded look into motivations, mindsets, and the implications this issue might hold for the rest of theology and gender. Instead I got an elementary and eye-rollingly histrionic essay that was only a few pages long. Wouldn't recommend it.
A very brief run-down of the actual issue in question (Junia's name being masculinized in some biblical translations) is followed by a rather sappy and anecdotal portrayal of 3 other women through history who were cool and who most people don't know about, but should. Revolutionary stuff, there.
Personally, I would have preferred a more serious-minded look into motivations, mindsets, and the implications this issue might hold for the rest of theology and gender. Instead I got an elementary and eye-rollingly histrionic essay that was only a few pages long. Wouldn't recommend it.
November 24, 2012
Fantastic! This is actually the first piece I've read by Scot McKnight. I'm so glad I did (and I'll definitely be reading more asap!). This mini-book (a long essay, really) is an excellent mix of history of Bible translation (which, if you know me at all, you know that's like crack to me), confrontation of historical avoidance of the prominent role of women in the church at large, and telling the stories of real-life women who rise to the call of leadership and ministry for the betterment of the Christian community at large. Very encouraging for women called to leadership in ministry, and those who support them.
April 14, 2018
This is a short, but sweet, overview of how Junia became "Junias" is many modern Bible translations, and is slowly being changed back and allowed to be in her proper place. He brings up several examples of forgotten women theologians and missionaries and what they did to improve modern culture -- in both church and secular societies -- and reaffirms the places of several other women mentioned in the Bible but forgotten by modern Christian religions that downplay or condemn the role of women leaders in the church. I enjoyed it, and wish there were more than 25 pages. I do hope to read more of his work in the future.
September 2, 2024
This short book does not give insight into what we know about Junia (we know she is a kin or a Jew, imprisoned for the faith/or with Paul, In Christ Before Paul, and Outstanding among the apostles). Instead, Scot McKnight tells how the church and Bible translators have forgotten, hidden, or sidelined women of the Bible and history. He demonstrates we have asked women to try to relate to men's stories and he explains that we need more balance in preaching and teaching. He asks us to seek out women like Junia, gifted by the Spirit, and enable them to follow their call. Let's tell the women's stories!
November 23, 2017
Not much to say about this. It's basically an extremely short introduction to the problem of Junia in Romans 16:7. It's a fascinating issue when it comes to both the trustworthiness of Bible translations and the debate regarding women in ministry. McKnight's treatment is far from comprehensive (or unbiased) but it's not a bad introduction and would be pretty accessible to laypeople. It also functions as a call to arms of sort to end the lack of focus on women in our studies of Scripture and Christian history.
August 10, 2019
Great, short and to the point
I have been a Christian for twenty years and have never had a problem with women teaching in the pulpit. Today someone about my age actually told me women shouldn't teach in the church. I couldn't believe some one actually held this belief. I have had many wonderful female pastors over the years who have guided me to a greater faith. Reading this book I am reminded of how much women have been central to God's work of bringing the good news of God's salvation to a weary world in need.
I have been a Christian for twenty years and have never had a problem with women teaching in the pulpit. Today someone about my age actually told me women shouldn't teach in the church. I couldn't believe some one actually held this belief. I have had many wonderful female pastors over the years who have guided me to a greater faith. Reading this book I am reminded of how much women have been central to God's work of bringing the good news of God's salvation to a weary world in need.
March 14, 2022
Phenomenal, short read
I'm so thankful for Scot McKnight! This essay was easily read in an hour, but it's not short on content. Scot passionately reminds us of all the fierce women God called to leadership throughout Scripture as well as some prominent forgotten ones from church history. Take an hour of your day and be encouraged by this exhortation from Scot to look for the -absolutely female- Junias in your church.
I'm so thankful for Scot McKnight! This essay was easily read in an hour, but it's not short on content. Scot passionately reminds us of all the fierce women God called to leadership throughout Scripture as well as some prominent forgotten ones from church history. Take an hour of your day and be encouraged by this exhortation from Scot to look for the -absolutely female- Junias in your church.
August 11, 2018
Never heard the account of Julia woman Apostle Romans 16:7
I have been studying the bible for years and I Never heard of Junia until today. I was listening to a podcast with Tim Mackie and Preston Sprinkle I decided to look her up and found this book. I'm glad I did this information needed for teaching
I have been studying the bible for years and I Never heard of Junia until today. I was listening to a podcast with Tim Mackie and Preston Sprinkle I decided to look her up and found this book. I'm glad I did this information needed for teaching
November 14, 2018
Simple truth, and Scot is bringing it back!
Reading this made me hungry for more. We need more men who are in season and out if season who will advicate for the calling that many of us women struggle to embrace. The personal battle we face to get where we know God has called us to go seems to be barred by our own brothers, and I pray one day, that this won't be so!
Reading this made me hungry for more. We need more men who are in season and out if season who will advicate for the calling that many of us women struggle to embrace. The personal battle we face to get where we know God has called us to go seems to be barred by our own brothers, and I pray one day, that this won't be so!
November 21, 2018
A simple and powerful piece affirming women who are gifted to use their gifts. Challenging us to tell the stories of women of scripture and history in honour of Junia and so many like her - who have always been there, doing wonderful things in God's name, leading, teaching, serving faithfully - just sadly silenced or written right out of history.
January 26, 2020
This very short book is really more of an essay. It is forcefully effective at displaying the dishonesty in some biblical scholarship when women are used by God in ways that patriarchal biases don’t want to accept. The women are simply erased from the Bible and history. Lord have mercy on our male souls.
May 16, 2020
Another first class contribution to popular Christian theology by the irrepressible Scot McKnight. As far as I'm concerned, this issue is pretty much settled now. Only US conservative holdouts (like the dreadful 'The Gospel Coalition') still stubbornly cling to the discredited notion of there not being full equality between the sexes.
January 30, 2021
Short and sweet, but nothing I haven’t already read/studied. I was lucky enough to have a seminary professor dive into Romans 16 and cover basically all that was covered here. But this would be helpful for anyone who is less aware or has not spent time diving into the theological implications of Junia/Junias.
May 17, 2018
Great read, important subject
As a Christian committed to both biblical accuracy and egalitarian service in the church, this is a handy little tool for quickly addressing the egregious “papering over” of women in our reading of Scripture.
As a Christian committed to both biblical accuracy and egalitarian service in the church, this is a handy little tool for quickly addressing the egregious “papering over” of women in our reading of Scripture.
December 15, 2019
Less a deep dive into history and translation than a call to remembrance and to action. Does that job very effectively (and if you're looking for that deeper dive, the sources are referred to and quoted throughout!).
June 22, 2017
Spot on. I only wish he would expand this into a book.
September 13, 2017
Not as substantive as I hoped, but worth the read.
October 7, 2017
Very short and basically argues that because Junia was an apostle, therefore women's ordination/equality/etc. Worth the 10 minutes it takes to read.
September 12, 2018
Great read
Easy Quick read and very enlightening on how much we really see women in the bible. I really appreciated Scot's insight.
Easy Quick read and very enlightening on how much we really see women in the bible. I really appreciated Scot's insight.
April 10, 2021
Refreshing.
Backed by scripture. To the point. And boldly stating God's truth. Thank you!!! I hope more read this wonderful, quick read.
Backed by scripture. To the point. And boldly stating God's truth. Thank you!!! I hope more read this wonderful, quick read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews